Accused arsonists waive hearing

Two Upper Bucks men accused of a series of arson fires waived their preliminary hearings Tuesday before District Judge Charles Baum in Perkasie.

Former probationary firefighter Cody Wagenseller, 18, of Perkasie, and former firefighter Adam Weaver, 20, of Sellersville, were charged in September with starting several fires, including one that burned down an abandoned building in Sellersville on Sept. 11 and another on Sept. 8 in Richland that destroyed about 850 tons of hay valued at nearly $100,000, according to court records.

Police said that the pair was caught when officers followed up on a tip that a suspicious vehicle was seen in the area of the abandoned building shortly before the Sept. 11 fire. They then discovered that the driver was Weaver, police said. When he was confronted the night of the abandoned building fire, Weaver admitted driving Wagenseller to several of the fires, according to court records. When police arrested Wagenseller, he told them that both men attempted to start the fire in the abandoned building, police said.

Both men were also connected to several area trash bin fires after their arrests, according to police.

Baum scheduled their formal arraignments in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas for Dec. 27.